well, underutilized groups may be shut down...

[blindpig]

Will this be one of them?

[semillama]

1. possibly.

Although it's a slow time of year for birding, so naturally, posting will be slow. It's like that on the Ohio birds email list I'm on.

The latest weird thing in Ohio is this pair of black-billed magpies that's been hanging around up in NE ohio. The big debate is wild vagrants vs. escapee. I haven't gone to check them out myself.

But it does seem like there aren't many birders at DU, or at least many who are willing to post much.

[blindpig]

2. well that's true

My summer residents are gone and the winter birds haven't arrived yet.

Speaking of vagrants, a few years ago I got a real good look at a bird I'd swear was a Krider's Hawk, very white. I suppose it could have been a partial albino Red-tail Hawk.

[semillama]

3. I'm going up in a couple weeks to watch some hawks in MI

Lake Erie metropark. Supposed to be a great hawk watching site there. I'm going with a group that gets together and does insane 5:30 am birding trips, which are always fun. it's the same group I'm going on the New Jersey pelagic trip in December with.

[blindpig]

4. Morning is good

I'm a real morning person, on a field day I'm up super early and wired like a bird dog on openning day. Bird until about 10 then start herp hunting(season permitting), that's what I call living.

You're tougher than I, blue water off Jersey in winter!

Winter hawks are pretty weak around here, we'll get some Harriers over the pastures and rarely a Merlin. It's the only time I see Kestrels around here anymore, have not seen a breeding bird in over a decade.

[XemaSab]

5. Winter is the time for hawks around here

Rough Legged, Ferrugies, Golden Eagles... that's when they come 'round.

[intheflow]

6. I think the groups and forums are no on the radar for a lot of DUers.

I'm always amazed when I post in a GD thread something like, "This post would be great in the _________ forum/group. Have you posted it there?" And I get a response back saying, "There's a ________ group?!?!?!" This even happens with the state and country forums!

Then there are so many groups to choose from. I am a casual birder and it wouldn't occur to me to stop by here normally. I like to see who's flying or singing when I'm out hiking, and really like the flashy-looking/sounding birds. Wrens have no interest for me! LOL!

But since I'm now a mod for this group, I thought I'd stop by and check it out, and came accross this thread. I have no idea if it will survive the reorg (being a moderator doesn't make me privy to such admin knowledge). But now that you're on my radar, I think I'll stop by more often, if only to lurk. I take a lot of bird photos, so maybe I'll post a thread or two about them.

See you all later! :hi: